Verified Document

Glory Explored In Homer's The Term Paper

357). Achilles reveals his cold nature when he says, "Die: and I will take my own death at whatever time" (XXII.364) moments after Hektor dies. Again, we see the stark contrast between these two heroes. Achilles is another face Homer attaches to the notion of war and kleos. Achilles is noble and popular for his "swift feet" (I.148). he is swift on his feet and he is swift to anger and this anger will surface to be the one thing that plagues him through The Iliad. It drives him through most of the plot and it is the bane of his existence. However, this flaw does not prevent Achilles from seeking glory or reaching fame. He experiences a different kind of kleos than Hektor does primarily because he becomes an enraged, bloodthirsty warrior. He seeks glory through this rage and earns a reputation for his superb fighting skills in the meantime. He becomes prideful of his abilities and this, too becomes a flaw. Again, Homer is exposing these heroes in a fashion that makes them realistic. They are not perfect by any means but they are still worthy of glory. Achilles is no Hektor when it comes to compassion; he is a man of anger instead. He allows his anger to influence his logic when it should not and, as a result, he makes serious mistakes. For example, he loses his temper with Agamemnon when he does not form an alliance with the Trojans. Many suffer as the result of this mistake. Many Achaeans die because of Achilles' mistake. Achilles cannot control his temper after Patroklos is killed. In a fir of anger, he says:

All these things the Olympian brought to accomplishment

But what pleasure is this to me, since my dear companion has perished . . .

that Hector first be beaten down under my spear, lose his life and pay the price for stripping Patroklos. (XVIII.79-80, 91-2).

Achilles loses sight of his glory and fame in this scene. He is lost in his anger and while this is unbecoming, it is very human. War takes a back set from this scene forward and, again, Homer shows us the nature of man through Achilles. He becomes a tragic hero from this point on and he shows us the dangerous side of seeking glory for the sake of self. Critic James Redfield claims both heroes descend "together into an impure world . . . For Hector this descent has been...

These men are "locked together in an everlasting dance of hatred -- despoiler and victim, predator and prey" (80) with Achilles as "transgressor" (82). The striking difference between these two men allows us to understand the complex nature of humanity and fame.
Even the Homeric code is one that cannot be narrowly painted. Heroes do carry certain characteristics and kleos is a significant aspect of that. Fame and glory only come to those willing to make certain sacrifices but their sacrifices do not always make them better men. Even heroes are judged and this judgment relates to their fighting prowess, their general ability and demeanor. With all of this, we can look at Homer's heroes and know with certainty they are not always good. The glory and the fame do not always reach the most deserving man and the most deserving man is a matter of opinion. Fame and glory are big when it comes to the idea of a hero and what catapulted him to the top of the list of men in line for the honor. They are to be recognized but they are not meant to be simplified. It may be easy for may to think all heroes in The Iliad were good-hearted, compassionate men with the purest of intensions but Homer was intent to demonstrate how this could never be true in an authentic story. We might like more if our stories were filled with heroes that were perfect but the truth is that those men might actually bore us to death. Hektor and Achilles demonstrate the variety of humanity. Even when it comes to heroes, there is room for failure and while we might like this idea at first, we should realize that these imperfections are what make their successes so much better. Homer knew this when he gave us these two different, but equally driven heroes, thirsting for fame and glory

Works Cited

Bloom, Harold. Introduction. Homer's The Iliad. New York: Chelsea House Publishers. 1987.

Homer. "The Iliad." Mack, Maynard, ed. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Vol. I.

5th ed. New York: W.W. Norton and Company. 1985. pp. 106-208.

Redfield, James. "Nature and Culture in the Iliad: Purification." Homer's The Iliad. New York:

Chelsea House Publishers. 1987.

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Bloom, Harold. Introduction. Homer's The Iliad. New York: Chelsea House Publishers. 1987.

Homer. "The Iliad." Mack, Maynard, ed. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Vol. I.

5th ed. New York: W.W. Norton and Company. 1985. pp. 106-208.

Redfield, James. "Nature and Culture in the Iliad: Purification." Homer's The Iliad. New York:
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Cyclops in Homer's "The Odyssey"
Words: 2395 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Odysseus waits for the Cyclops to return home because he "wanted to see the owner himself, in the hope that he might give me a present." (Homer, Book IX) Odysseus introduces himself and his men to the Cyclops as essentially being mass murderers, and they expect that the Cyclops will present them with gifts and offerings for these deeds. "We therefore humbly pray you to show us some hospitality,

Adaptations Mythology - Adaptations When Watching the
Words: 2781 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

Adaptations Mythology - Adaptations When watching the Coen Brothers' film Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, it becomes immediately apparent that the film is meant to be a creative adaptation of The Odyssey by Homer. Rather than a straightforward mimicking of The Odyssey, however, the film makes use of Homer's plot to tell a very different story about escaped convicts in the southern United States in the late 1930s. The most obvious parallel between

Relationships in a Rose for Emily William
Words: 1315 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Relationships in a Rose for Emily William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily concerns the life of Emily Grierson, an eccentric recluse who changes from an energetic and hopeful young girl to a secluded and mysterious old woman. Born into a well respected, well off family her father rejected the potential suitors who entered her life. Alone after her father's death, she becomes an object of pity for the people of the

Beowulf As a Hero Lesson
Words: 2900 Length: 10 Document Type: Journal

Those with issues to overcome are always more heroic. Hector also becomes a hero when, after at first running from Achilles, he eventually stands up to him and dies a heroic death. The Iliad is primarily a war epic. In your opinion, is the Iliad condemnation of the it could easily be argued that the Illiad glorifies war, as much of the poem is spent portraying the warriors as brave

Theories Tactics Methods and Techniques
Words: 24173 Length: 76 Document Type: Term Paper

EDSE 600: History and Philosophy of Education / / 3.0 credits The class entitled, History and Philosophy of Education, focused on the origin of education and the "philosophical influences of modern educational theory and practice. Study of: philosophical developments in the Renaissance, Reformation, and revolutionary periods; social, cultural and ideological forces which have shaped educational policies in the United States; current debates on meeting the wide range of educational and social-emotional

Dante, Sophocles, Gilgamesh Revised the Epic of
Words: 1531 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Dante, Sophocles, Gilgamesh REVISED The Epic of Gilgamesh, Dante's Inferno and Sophocles Oedipus the King are all classic and foundational Western texts which depict, en passant, the importance of humankind's demand to know, to explore and penetrate the unknown, to arrive at ultimate truths about existence and its mysteries, and to find meaning or value therein. I hope to demonstrate with reference to specific episodes -- that of Utnapishtim in Gilgamesh,

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now